Welsh Language Hunger Strike Ends

Members of Cymdeithas Yr Iaith have been protesting in a bid to get planning laws changed. They're calling for provision to be made so that permission for new housing can be refused on grounds of the impact it will have on the Welsh language in an area. Robin Farrar from the Welsh language group said:

"Despite the crisis that the Welsh Speaking Communities are facing, as the law stands, the Welsh Language can't be grounds to reject if a company wants to build, for example, hundreds of homes in your village and that is unacceptable. We're calling for a computy focused planning system, a system that starts with local needs. Amd we're calling for the Welsh language to be used as grounds to accept, or to reject, applications to build houses."

The Welsh Government has released a statement in reponse to the protest. A spokesperson said:

"The Welsh Government's commitment to the Welsh language was confirmed in the First Minister's policy statement issued on 17 June. The Welsh Government is committed to a plan-led system and local planning authorities should make sure that the Welsh language is considered when LDPs are prepared. To assist authorities, practice guidance was issued on 17 June, along side the First Minister's statement."